When Can You Fertilize New Tall Fescue Grass That Is Light Green?

Fertilizer Recommendations

• Fertilizer choices should always be made in light of the nutritional content of your soil and the nutritional needs of the cultivar of tall fescue you are growing. Typically, however, experts recommend a fertilizer high in nitrogen in order to satisfy the nitrogen needs of the tall fescue. Soil fertility tests typically are offered by local university extension offices; if these tests indicate a nitrogen deficiency in the soil in which the tall fescue will be growing, you will more than likely need to use a nitrogen fertilizer several times throughout the process of establishing your lawn.

Early Growth Application

• Approximately one month after planting tall fescue, you should see young, light green seedlings emerging from the soil. At this point, incorporate a complete fertilizer -- any fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium -- at a rate of 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. The total amount of nitrogen in soil depends on the type of fertilizer you are using; different kinds of fertilizers deliver different amounts of nitrogen to soil. In choosing a fertilizer for this early growth application, follow manufacturer's instructions to ensure that you do not incorporate either too much or too little nitrogen into soil.

Additional Applications

• Additional applications of fertilizer are necessary to ensure a well-established, healthy and vigorous fescue lawn. In its guide to creating a tall fescue lawn, the Texas A&M University Extension recommends using fertilizer to supply around 3 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year. Use a complete fertilizer to incorporate 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet first in September followed by additional applications in May and February. A final application of half a pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet in during the summer is sometimes warranted but often not necessary.

Other Considerations

• It is critical to understand the dangers of using fertilizers improperly. Homeowners eager for a quickly established, dark green lawn sometimes mistakenly believe that the more fertilizer they use, the more the grass will grow. But over-fertilization leaves your grass more susceptible to disease and pests, and can leave the grass in an overall state of declining health that would be worse than if you had not fertilized at all. Always follow the application instructions printed on the fertilizer you purchase.